How to Fly Kites – Practical Tips For Beginners
It’s a beautiful spring day outside. The grass is fresh and green, the tress and flowers are blooming, there is a fragrant breeze blowing. What could be a more idyllic activity than taking the kids to the park and showing them your prowess by getting that kite high into the sky? Well, before you take them to that park and run back and forth across the field with the kite dragging on the ground behind you, let’s review some tips about kite flying.
The first consideration should be where to fly the kite. The park may sound like a great idea, but if there are lots of trees that could be a problem. An important safety tip is to stay well clear of power lines, as well as any airports or buildings. Find a nice wide open field, or a beach is there is one nearby. Beaches also tend to have added breezes, so that is an additional bonus.
OK, so you have a place picked out, now let’s talk about getting that kite started on its flight. The running back and forth method? No, that can be a dangerous and seldom works. If you have a helper, let them stand about 80 feet downwind from you.
Let out some line and have them release the kite into the wind while you give the string a pull. As the kite climbs, let out more line. If you have no partner, you can try this on your own. Stand with your back to the wind and hold the kit high. As you feel the wind catch the kite and it starts to lift, gently release the kite. Let out more line as it begins to gain some height.
The packaging that your kite came with may have given you some recommendations about wind conditions it will work best in. If you are having difficulty getting the kite into the air, you probably do not have enough wind. If the kite is dipping and looping wildly in the air, there may be too much wind.
When there is too much wind you can add a tail to the kite, this will add stability. If the kite has an adjustable bridle you can move it higher (towards the top of the kite) to adjust for the greater wind. As you fly the kite, you want to keep gentle tension on the string. If it is pulling, let the string out a bit, if the kite string grows slack, reel some in. A good flying height is between 50- 100 feet.
As you bring the kite down for the end of its flight, reel the cord in slowly. You can walk in towards the kite as you do this, slowly reeling in. This can help slow the speed. Reach up and secure the kite before it crashes to help save it for the next flight.
About the Author
Check this popular kite course to discover secrets about kite making and flying that only handful elite kite experts know about.
How To Fly A Kite
|
|
Kites for Everyone: How to Make and Fly Them $8.23 Thorough, expert guide with easy-to-follow illustrated instructions for creating more than 50 awesome, airborne objects — everything from simple bag kites to Vietnamese, Snake, Dutch, Dragon, Bullet, Delta, and Flowform flyers. The author also covers windsocks and toy parachutes. “It’s like having a veteran kitemaker in the classroom.” — Science and Children…. |
|
|
How to Make and Fly Stunt Kites –2004 publication. $2.59 This guide to the art of stunt kite flying covers every aspect of the sport, from being safe and wearing the right clothes, to performing power dives and flying axels. With advice on the type of lines, kites, and handles to buy, as well as a section on other associated kite-flying sports, the perfect introduction to this exciting and dramatic sport…. |
|
|
Kites: How to Fly Them, How to Build Them $5.95 … |